“What’s the...” Valeria couldn’t think of the word for the
baster and she couldn’t point as every move was painful.
“Don’t worry, it isn’t real blood. Tav and Caleb made it,” Camille whispered.
Alex came in again, looking a bit pensive with Paolo in tow.
“We’ve been talking, and I think you need to permit me to see the vision. We need to know if Kristiana is actually communicating with you or if it was just a bad dream. I am aware that it was threatening. You don’t need to feel like you are protecting me,” Alex said.
Paolo stood by as Alex took Valeria’s hands in his. As Alex kissed her fingers tenderly, his eyes lit on her with so much love that all of her worries disappeared and she was at once, lost in him. She felt the energy of the transference as it ran from her fingers to his. She saw a brief smile graze his face and she realized that she was recalling their wedding night and honeymoon. She grimaced—she still had no control of her transferences.
“Just relax,” he said.
She drew a deep breath while the smile continued to cling to the corners of his mouth. Then his eyes got wide and the color drained from his face.
“Kristiana?” she whispered as a statement.
Alex nodded slowly. “We need to bring the family in.”
By silent command, the entire family funneled into her room. Alex said, “I’m going in search of Kristiana and I believe I know where to find her.”
Lars began to speak, “I agree—”
But before he could say anything else Paolo said flatly, “She will simply kill you.”
Feeling the panic rising in her, Valeria cried out in a mix of anguish followed by the pain of exertion. “Please! Alex, promise me you won’t do that! Please!” She needed his agreement. Alex seemed to be undecided.
“I don’t want to upset you, Val, but it’s the right thing to do. Kristiana and I were married and obviously we have...unfinished business.” Alex glanced up at the ceiling for a moment and then to Paolo.
Suddenly, Valeria understood; that had been a communication for Kristiana. As long as Kristiana believed that Alex was coming to her, she might not try to harm her or their baby.
Lars said, “Val, while I don’t necessarily agree with Alex on this, we do both agree that Paolo and Caleb should keep an eye on you.”
“I’m sorry—but no.”
“Do you still suspect me, bella?” Paolo said, obviously hurt.
“No,” she said, and in that moment she realized she was no longer angry with him. “No, Paolo. I just can’t believe that Daphne and Alex would be comfortable with that,” she said in a breathy voice to avoid the pain in her ribs.
Daphne stepped forward and put her hand affectionately on Paolo’s arm and drew a nervous breath. “Valeria, I know that you and I haven’t been close.” She shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Perhaps that’s a bit of an understatement.” Daphne took a deep breath, and continued, “I can tell you that the last thing I want is for Paolo to spend more time with you. I am certain that Alex feels the same way. But the fact is that you and the child are safer with Paolo near.”
Lars walked toward Valeria’s bed. “Daphne is right. And you know that Alex wouldn’t agree to this unless he had reason.”
Valeria rubbed her forehead and glanced at Alex who nodded. Then she aimed a quick glance at Camille, who also nodded, so Valeria consented by nodding in return. Alex looked relieved.
They brought in a chair and a cot for Paolo. When they brought in a four-panel screen, Paolo raised a hand.
“How do I watch Valeria with a screen blocking my vision of her?”
Daphne smiled. “We can leave it by the wall for now. But the woman does require some privacy!” she said, raising her eyebrows.
“Yes, you are right,” Paolo said.
Alex looked particularly tense. Valeria wondered about Camille’s communication and what was about to unfold that she should prepare herself for. As the day rolled into evening, Paolo remained on duty from his chair in the corner. He glanced up from his book and said, “Bella, I hope you know that I would never intentionally harm you.”
Valeria was too exhausted to reassure Paolo. She shrugged noncommittally and she could tell by his silence that he was hurt from her response. A few minutes later, Alex returned with Daphne.
Daphne held out the crystal glass to Paolo. “I thought you might like some wine.” Paolo nodded and took a sip. “It’s Alex’s good stock,” she whispered conspiratorially.
Valeria was surprised by the exchange. She would have never expected Daphne to serve anyone—well, except Alex. Daphne sat down on the arm of Paolo’s chair as he read. After an hour, when the glass was nearly empty, she picked it up, left briefly, and returned with it refilled. Paolo didn’t seem to notice as he continued reading. Daphne brushed his shoulder, and he smiled up at her; even from the distance, Valeria could see that his eyes looked a bit glassy. Then Daphne offered a slight nod to Alex and, a moment later, Mani entered the room.
“How are you feeling Valeria?” Mani asked.
She started to say that she felt fine for someone who had just broken a rib and her leg…and was pregnant. But before she could say a word, it seemed as if Alex noticed something in her appearance. He asked, “Val, everything all right?” She didn’t feel good, but she felt no worse.
Paolo started to lean out of his chair. Alex glared at him and Daphne pressed him back down.
“I’m sorry, Alex. We’ll give you some privacy,” Daphne said as she pulled the screen open, blocking Paolo’s direct view of Valeria. Paolo started to object and Daphne added, “Paolo! She’s with Doc!”
Mani took a small flashlight out of his pocket and held it over her eyes. Then he rose and pulled off a printout that came from the machinery that was attached to her. He studied the report for a moment and then turned to her.
“Valeria, the oxygen saturation in your bloodstream is extremely low.” He turned a piece of equipment and then lifted an oxygen mask and adjusted the elastic band behind her head. “We will keep this on you for the time being.” She tried to relax but Alex’s face looked so full of concern that it was difficult to tell if Mani was telling her the truth or if this was the deception Camille had been suggesting to her earlier in the day. Valeria breathed deeply, now concerned for their child.
“Is she all right?” Paolo asked rising out of his chair again. Again, Daphne pressed him back down.
Mani stood as Alex continued to squeeze her hand. “Let’s see if the internal bleeding is controlled.”
Valeria narrowed her eyes and she looked at Alex, who winked at her with no joy in his eyes. Had she imagined that the baby was fine? Now she was concerned. Mani had said that there was some bleeding. Maybe there was more than he had wanted to say at the time. Alex squeezed her hand and gave her a comforting nod. Paolo was peeking through the breaks in the screen.
“Hey, pal, how about giving us some privacy,” Alex said.
“Do you need us to leave?” Daphne asked.
“For the ultrasound the screen should be fine,” Mani intervened.
Mani adjusted the sheet and then pulled Valeria’s hospital gown to just above her naval. He folded it neatly and then squeezed the cold liquid onto her belly.
Turning the monitor so that only Alex and Valeria could view it, Mani moved the wand to show the babies rapidly beating heart. Valeria relaxed a bit. Then Mani moved it further and it showed a clear silhouette of the baby sucking her thumb and moving the fingers of her other hand. Valeria was momentarily overwhelmed and glanced at Alex who had tears in his eyes. Then Mani held a finger over his mouth.
“It looks like…” he changed the resolution and the vision changed. “I’m sorry, I am unable to find the heartbeat.”
Valeria’s eyes widened in alarm and Alex mouthed,
It’s fine!
Then Alex lifted a single finger and pointed toward Mani. She noticed that Mani had the turkey baster in his hand. First, he wiped the gel from Valeria’s stomach, and then he squeezed the cold red goo over her thighs. It shocked her and she let out a sound, which was a mistake because of her ribs, and caused her to moan in pain.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asked and brushed her rib lightly.
“Alex!” Mani said and took a towel and soaked it with the baster. “Daphne, please ask Camille to come immediately.”
Valeria lowered her brow. Mani would never ask Daphne to get Camille, as their non-verbal communication was so powerful.
Valeria expected Daphne to say, “Go get her yourself!” She was stunned when Daphne jumped up and went for the door.
“Camille, Mani needs you!” Daphne said with more urgency than Valeria thought her capable.
Paolo stood and took a few steps to the edge of the screen. He weaved a bit and then grabbed the screen for support.
“Is my Bella all right?” he asked.
He looked so pitiful that Valeria could barely stand the ruse. The hurt on Daphne’s face was palpable when she stepped from the door and took him by the shoulder.
“Baby, she isn’t your Bella anymore. She is Alex’s Valeria.” She supported him as it looked like he might fall over at any moment. Mani lifted a blood soaked towel onto a tray, leaving it in Paolo’s sight.
“Yes, I know. She isn’t my Bella anymore,” he said sadly.
“No, she is not. Come, we have to leave now,” Daphne said calmly.
Paolo staggered a bit. “What is wrong with me?”
“You drank too much wine,” Daphne said, as she continued to guide him out. Once they were in the doorway, Paolo grabbed the doorframe and turned.
“I am sorry; I seem to have drunk too much wine.” Mani nodded toward him and then lifted another blood soaked towel. Paolo continued, “Mani, do you promise to take good care of my...Alex’s Bella, if I leave?”
Mani looked up at Paolo and his face softened.
“Yes, Paolo, I will take good care of her.”
Paolo turned back around to head down the hall and Camille impatiently closed the door right behind them. All action froze as they all listened to the motion in the hallway. They heard a few steps and then Paolo said, “Once, long ago, she was
my
Isabella.”
Daphne’s voice sounded softer than usual. “No, it only seemed that way—it’s easy to fool yourself, but they were never ours.”
There was a thud followed by a drunken groan in the great room and Camille nodded.
“Beautiful, you’re fine. Bear with us for a few minutes,” Alex said, and then ran to the window and opened it. He pulled in a stretcher from outside the window and carried it over to the bed, laying it next to Valeria. Camille unsnapped Valeria’s hospital gown and replaced it with a clean one; then she crinkled up the stained gown, and placed it blood side up in a laundry hamper. Mani snipped a container of blood
and soaked the gown, then poured the remainder in a bowl and placed it on the tray with his instruments.
Alex rolled Valeria toward him to transfer her onto the stretcher, and he paled when she cried out in pain as her leg twisted.
“I’m sorry!” he said, still trying to gently adjust her legs onto the stretcher.
Valeria’s head was spinning from the pain and she was certain she was going to black out. She looked up and thought she was seeing things. A woman wearing a hospital gown, with hair similar to Valeria’s, stood next to her. As soon as Valeria could focus, she realized it was Ava, wearing a wig. Ava gave Valeria a quick smile. Then Alex and Mani lifted Valeria toward the window as Camille changed the sheet. Ava lay down on the hospital bed and pulled the oxygen mask over her face.
Outside, it was cold and Valeria shivered as she heard, “Easy does it, lass, we’ve got you.”
“Lars, can you cover her feet?” Alex asked.
She felt the blanket being carefully adjusted over her feet and then she was staring up at brilliant evening stars. Alex hopped out from the window and pulled the blankets around Valeria tightly, and then he kissed her forehead.
“I’m sorry, beautiful, but I’m going to have to stay here for a while,” he whispered. “It shouldn’t be too much longer. I’ll be down as soon as I can.” Then he looked to Lars and Tavish, and said, “Please be gentle with her!”
Valeria still couldn’t quite follow what was happening. She watched as Alex climbed back into the window and closed it. Then he blew her a kiss and went to Ava’s side, nodded, and took her hand.
It was a painful journey through the twilight canopy along the wooded trail. Every step caused a myriad of pains shooting through her body. She hadn’t realized how sore she was until she felt the jiggling and jarring of the trail. She tried not to make any sound, wondering where they were going and concentrating on the extraordinary smells of the forest in the fall.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Lars asked.
All she could manage was, “Uh-huh.”
They passed a clearing and she glanced over to see their beloved cottage burnt to the ground. A few pieces of Alex’s charred sculptures sat on the edge of the ashes. She felt the sadness well inside, until she saw the one thing that made it all right. Their ginkgo tree looked completely unmarred. She could see the golden leaves in the moonlight—no burnt branches! Her ginkgo tree had survived, and so had they!
A few minutes later, she saw Mani’s home. Tavish and Lars laid her on the bed but this time she failed miserably at withholding a moan and she realized she was shaking.